Osborne sells combined Greater Birmingham authority idea

Chancellor George Osborne has been in Birmingham selling his idea of a combined authority headed by a mayor.

Councils controlling Birmingham, Walsall and Wolverhampton are among those who have backed the plans.

Mr Osborne was speaking to council leaders at Aston science park in Birmingham on Monday and said: "If you give all the control over things like the money we spend on transport or skills or the like, then you do need a point of accountability."